“So what does it matter if my eyes are a different color?” Rev asks.

“It shows that you're different from those who are already different. You're one of a kind,” Judas says.

“Well, that sound like a good thing to me. Rev represents changes in my eyes. He isn’t the same kid he was when we first met.” Ein says.

Judas looks up at Ein. “Not a single lie has ever left your mouth. So ill take you at your word. Please come am sure you're quick hungry after such a long journey,” Judas say.

Rev spirits rise as he looks up at Ein. “Go ahead kid, you earned it,” Ein tells Rev.

Rev exactly follows after Judas. Rev looks around at the city as he follows Judas deeper in. Ein trails behind him as he takes in the memories he’s had here. The city buildings we half destroyed, half rebuilt. There was plant life was incorporated into every building. Despite that, as Rev looked around, everyone seemed to have a smile on their face. Everyone was doing something or another. As Rev entered the main building, the smell of fresh bread hit his nose. He took a deep breath. Looking at the interior design of the building. Seeing glimmers of source floating around.

“Here we are. Be sure to make yourself at home,” Judas says as he opens the doors to the man hall.

A giant table stretching the length of it.

“Thank you for having us,” Ein says.

“Of course. Dinner will be ready soon.” Judas says as he walks to another room.

Rev watches and seeing a room is full of people cooking. As he turns, he sees multiple kids running around. While there are some adults already sitting at the table talking to each other. This was truly like no city Rev had ever seen. It was much smaller, and its sense of atmosphere was much more joyful than he was used to.

“Have a seat Rev” Ein says patting the seat next to him.

Rev quickly walks over and takes his seat.

“To many people here for your liking?” Ein asks with a laugh.

Rev is looking down at his hand playing with the source, moving to around.

“No…it fine” He responds.

Ein smiles and pats his head. “Many lies have left your tongue, haven’t they,” Ein says.

Rev looks up. “And nothing useful has ever left yours,” Rev shoots back.

Ein laughs “Oh how could you say such a thing” Ein sarcastically says.

A reluctant grin appears on Rev’s face. “That’s the smile I love. Come on, kid, I know there’s something that will make you smile no matter what.”

“And what’s that?” Rev says, glaring up at Ein.

Ein stands up and grabs the two plates from the chief behind Rev. Rev’s eyes widen “Food of course” Ein says.

“Thank you, twin gods for the meal. We will not let any of it go to waste,” Rev prays.

He opens his eyes and starts to devour the food in front of him. The meat is so tender Rev is not used to it. It melts in his mouth. He looks over at Ein.

“Its good isn’t,” Ein says smiling.

“YE-A-H”Rev says.

Ein signs “Don’t talk with your mouth full, kid.”

They spend the night eating away and Ein talks to Judas and other old friend. Then the night comes. Judas directs them to their rooms.

“Here we are….” Judas says opening the door.

Rev walks into the room and is so warm. He walks over to the bed and lays down. The bed is so soft and comfy; he sinks into it. Ein goes to take a shower. Rev couldn’t bring himself to get up out of the bed.

“The shower is open…” Ein says.

He sees Rev already fast asleep in the bed. He walks over putting the blanked over him.

“Rest child….you’ve earned it,” Ein whispers.

Night passes and Rev wakes and moves side to side. Feeling the warmth blanked wrapped around him. He eventually sits up.

“Ein….Ein….Ein…” Rev says, looking around.

He gets and checks the bathroom. No one is there.

“Ein?”

Rev runs out the door and down the hall. Scanning all around him. As he turns the corner, he appears almost crashing straight into him.

“EIN!” Rev yell.

“What is it, child?” Ein responds.

“Where did you go…” Rev asks.

Ein smiles, seeing the concealed concern in Rev’s voice. “I got breakfast what else.” He says, showing him the bowl of fruits.

Rev grabs the bowl from him and eats the fruit as he follows Ein.

“I was thinking we get some more supplies today. Do some shopping. We still need to make it up the next mountain,” Ein tells Rev.

Rev follows after Ein as they make their way out. Rev leave the bowl on the table on the way out of the dining hall. Into the open city, they go.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

“Would you like to explore the city while I take care of the shopping?” Ein asks.

“….Ok” Rev agrees in hopes that Ein is trying to surprise him with another gift.

Rev watches Ein walk off, and he turns to look at the tall building in the middle. “That should be good enough,” He thinks. Rev then wind blast himself up and up. As he lands near the top and climbs up the rest. He turns to face the cities and its vast scale. Rev looks down at the humans below, seeing sparkles of light in them. “They all have more source than a normal human,” Rev thinks to himself. He then jumps and boosts through the air, creating stone tiles as he goes. People look up at him but don’t seem to carry and worry. Rev, seeing the city from above, realizes it looks more half built than half destroyed. Rev continues to explore. The city building is tall, but mostly empty. He sees buildings with pipes the seem to lead nowhere stick out of them. With metal bars sticking out. He passes by and touches the leaves of small plants growing in the crack of these massive buildings. Rev heads down sliding down a building feeling that rush of danger that he chases from time to time. Rev makes it down safely. He then walks around, realizing there isn’t much to do. He walks back towards the inner city. As he does, he feels a strange sensation. “Run…Run…RUN” He thinks over and over again in his head. He looks up and sees a flock of borrows fly over head. Rev lets out a breath of relief “…Run” There it is an again “…Run” the tingle fills his body head to toe. A dark shadow appears overhead as if in an instant a large gust of wind follows, knocking Rev over with no time to react. He looks up for his eyes to be met with flames.

“REV!!” Judas calls out.

He turns his attention to the bigger threat at hand.

“Where….is….LOKA!” the beast yells out.

“I have no such information and have to future intentions of meeting such a person,” Judas says, on the verge of rage.

meanwhile, across the way, guards are evacuating the people underground.

“Hey…your Ein right. We could use your help,” the guard calls out.

“What is it? Are we under attack?” Ein asks.

“Yes…a dragon has been spotted!.” the guard says, his voice shaking with fear.

Ein clenches his fist “Take me to them” He demands.

Rev is a different place. One so warm and vibrant. His eyes are closed as he takes in the warm void around him.

“____ _____” ……

Rev’s eyes shoot open. “That voice…” He thinks.

He looks around to the city block that’s been covered in flames so warm.

BANG!!

BOOOOOM

RAAAAAAAAAAA!

SHROOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!

Rev looks up seeing judas and a large beast fighting “What is that thing…did it…could it..it's a DRAGON!” Rev thinks.

His eyes widen…but his hands shake no his whole body is shaking. Could it be not? But it is Rev is completely and underlay terrified. He tries to breathe, but the flames make it hard. He runs out of the flames, taking his burnt cloak off and takes a breath. Meanwhile, Ein is sprinting through the city as he’s now spotted the dragon.

“The man you're looking for isn’t here. Leave my people alone!.” Judas yells.

“Only a fool would take the word of a filthy elf,” the dragon responds.

….BOOOOOOOOOM!!

Ein shoots up at top speed, clobbering the dragon on the side, sending it crashing down.

“NOW JUDAS SHOOT” Ein calls out.

Judas smiles and charges up an attack. Flashing through tens of signs.

“Let the twin gods' judgment fall on you.” Judas says.

Rev looks up to see Judas has created a two giant stone fists. The dragon quickly fires an attack unlike the flames Rev was hit with.

“WATCH OUT” Rev yells.

Judas had made a critical mistake. The fear that a dragon admits is no trick at all. It’s simply a nature reaction to being in the presence of such a beast. This fear out put is most concentrated in their eyes. A mixture of light grey and green is in the center. It's said if a normal person were to stare a dragon straight in the eyes, they would drop dead on the stop their heart brought to a complete stop. Too scared to even take a breath or attempt to look away. Lucky Judas is far from a normal person. He brings his giant stone's arms up, blocking his sight and the attack. “No…its not over yet” Rev thinks as he sees the what the real attack was. The dragon had just shoot a beam of source into the stone hand and in an instant Rev watches as the source rips the stone apart from the inside out as if it exploded. The dragon attempts to fly up to Judas, but Ein had not wasted time watching he instead cast giant stone pillars in an attempt to trap it. Rev nerves are settling as he gets closer, the flames now extinguished.

The dragon laughs. “Fools all of you.” He says.

“what?” Rev thinks.

The dark scales covering the dragon body shoot up and fold into themself. Judas prepares for close range combat.

“You really don’t need to do this,” Judas yells out.

“Your right...I want to do this….I’ve come all this way after all. I wonder when was the last time i killed a blessed elf.” The dragon says.

Rev looks from above as the dragon shrinks and morphs. “He looks like a human…kinda” Rev thinks. Ein prepares himself charging up the wind blast and a stone staff with a blade at the end ready. Judas is deeply focused. Ein understands it’s up to him for a while. There it is. Ein flashes in, going straight for the head.

SWOOOSH!

It snaps in contact. The dragon looks over. “I know you…” the dragon says, now getting a good look at Ein.

Ein looks at him back dropping the now useless staff “Many know me” Ein responds.

“No…you’ve changed. You are no longer the man I knew. No…you are far too weak!” The dragon says.

“Ash, I suggest you start repenting soon, before it’s too late,” Ein says.

“You talk too much. I like you better when you talked with your fists. That hit earlier was light compared to what I remember. Maybe I’m misremember. Would you do the honors of clearing it up?” Ash asks, staring at Ein.

Ein stares back, unfazed. “There it is” Ash says.

“A man of faith has no room for fear in his heart,” Ein tells Ash as he smiles.

BANG

BANG

Hit gits that felt like one crash into Ein. He quickly reachers and swings back. Ein know’s he’s not the one to beat him with source attacks.

Rev looks down and gets closer and closer. Looking up to see Judas creating multiple water orbs. “What’s he doing? Whys he not helping Ein…” Rev thinks. He can’t let fear guide him any longer. He goes in.

“Am coming to help you Ein” Rev yells out.

Ein turns in horror as he watches Rev run towards him “NO-”

BANG

“No, kid get out of the way,” Judas yells out.

Rev is too focused on helping Ein, but he sees Ein fall to the ground.

“NOOO!” Rev says.

“Who are you?” Ash says.

“What ever…” Ash says as he fire breath Rev.

Rev takes in the flame, seeing Ein lay out on the ground. Rev’s eyes gloss over the bright crimson in them, flare out like an angry flame. Ash has turned his attention To Judas. Judas doesn’t know what to do. Rev is on the direct path of the attack. He can’t hesitate. He shoots only half of the water orbs. They turn to ice on the counter. Rev's mind is full of rage. He dashes in on ash, but he quickly turns and back hands, him sending him flying.

“How are you….oh fuck-” Ash is hit by the orbs chilling him to an almost numb state on his back.

“Good kid, you're finally out the way- “Judas wasn’t expecting such a direct attack as Ash fly up to him in an instant and attempting to bash in his head. Judas closes in the water orbs on him, freezing him. Ash start to ice chucks of him and fire breath. Heating up his core, he transforms back to a dragon, his scale glistening in the sun. He swipes Judas away. Rev is crawling to Ein as Rev is barely even conscious.

“Stay…back kid,” Ein faintly says.

“Your ALIVE” Rev tries to yell out.

Ash looks at the city from above to no avail. “Dam you LOKA!!! Dam You!” Ash cries out in a fit of rage.

“Loka…there’s that name again. Who is he…” Rev thinks but doesn’t really care as he cares over to Ein. Ash flies down.

“I’ll give you one last chance, EIn. Where is Loka?” Ash asks.

“I have no information on that monster,” Ein says.

“Loka…monster” Rev thinks to himself.

“Fine, you have chosen your fate. You are no use to me” ash says as fire breathing Ein and roaring loudly then flying off.

Rev tries to get up to Ein and cover him against the blast, but it's no use.

“EIN, EIN , EIN!!!” Rev cries out.

“Child…do not worry. Blessed are those….who die…so others may live. Don’t let my death be in vain. Run…Child run…the mountain palace awaits-” Eins says as he takes his last breath handing Rev his red cloth band and smiling.

Rev grabs the red band and hugs Ein tightly. The smell of his burnt flesh fills his nose, but doesn't let go.

“TELL ME TWIN GODS….IS THIS ALSO PART OF YOUR PLAN…ANSWER ME DAM IT!!!” Rev cries out.